THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out Faciam." SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1861.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26, 14 December 1861, Page 2

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out Faciam." SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1861.

Whilst those who should address themselves to supplying the real wants of the Province are expending their energies on private squabbles, or in attempts to procure political aggrandisement, they quite forget the real and important interests confided to their keeping. "Not one man in ten in the Province takes the slightest interest whether Dick or Walker leads the Executive, or whether M'Glashan and Reynolds, or Hardy and Ho worth are component parts of it; but there ar^ubjects on which nine men out of ten are keenly interested, and it is thought that by common consent, the paltry vestry quarrels might have been suspended for a while, to admit of matters of real moment being dealt with.

The whole of the postal arrangements ar< in a most unsatisfactory condition, and th< Council should have placed on the Estimate! a sum sufficient to cover all expenses for remedying the defects, leaving it a question o after consideration as to reimbursement, oui of the Provincial revenues, in the hands o the General Government. If the postal service, inward and outward, were a total loss, such are the indirect advantages arising from it that the country would profit by the outlay. But there is no pretence that such would be the case : with increased facilities there is no question the postal revenue would exhibit a corresponding increase. A daily mail to the diggings, and a fortnightly mail to and from Melbourne direct, are absolutely required, and must be had. Already the difficulty in the way of the latter is increased, as we understand the Southland Government has ofFered £100 for every trip the steamer calls in at the Bluff. This may be.regarded as a premium for placing Otago at a longer postal distance from Melbourne. But there is one other matter of great importance, towards accomplishing which the Superintendent alone will have little power, but which the Council might greatly have aided. The adjournment of the Council, without expressing an opinion as to the conduct of the General Government, and without affirming by resolution the expediency of a separation between the two Islands, is blameworthy in the extreme. Another matter of the greatest importance, is the formation oi the roads to the diggings before the winter rains make them totally impassable, and we believe the funds provided for the purpose are utterly inadequate. Amongst other matters needing immediate attention, but the responsibility of which lies we do not know with whom, are the appointment of an in spector of nuisances, the formation of wells in the principal parts of the town, to be used in case of fire; the negotiating with Sydney the establishment of a line of communication with England via Panama, the introduction of a Savings Brink, and the causing land to be put up for sale at the diggings, in which the miners may invest their spare capital. The miners absolutely do not know what to do with their mosey—they save the gold, because it" they sell it they have no use to which to put the proceeds. They take it away with them to enjoy a*holiday in Victoria, and when some poor wretch, ignorant of Custom-house duty, quietly leaves with his gold in his pocket, exulting, probably, in his perfect freedom, he is arrested by a detective officer, his gold forfeited, and is told that as an act of mercy, he will not be fined himself ! Perhaps he considers that a legal robbery has been perpetrated on him. Truly, what may happen to a man in Otago would fill a volume.

We only a few* days ago announced the loss of the schooner Salopian on the Taieri bar. We regret to state that another vessel, the Huon, has been wrecked on the sand spit inside the bar, and is fast going to pieces. A pilot is absolutely requisite for the river, the number of vessels trading there having increased considerably, and we trust the attention of the Government will be drawn to the necessity, or otherwise many more disasters! may be expected.

We understand that tenders will shortly be called for by the Government for the new Jetty, which the Council decided should be erected in continuation of Rattray-street. The new Jetty at Stuart-street will also be proceeded with, and also the work of widening and improving the present Jetty and its approaches. ;

The Town Board of Port Chalmers will now have an opportunty of showing its neighbour Dunedin what a little energy will do. Hitherto the latter body has had the command of the whole Municipal Estate of the Province, but we observe that the Council have passed a bill " Constituting a Municipal Estate for the Town of Port Chalmers.'

As a proof of the benefit which many of the Victorian diggers have derived from a short visit to the Otago Gold Fields, we may mention that when the Detective Officers searched the Atdinga's passengers for contraband gold, one of the miners showed them an old worsted comforter (worthy of the name) containing twelve hundred sovereigns, and another had seven hundred wrapped up in an old handkerchief. These are substantial proofs of the paying nature of the diggings ; but in all possibility if these men had been asked, while on the field, what they were making, they would have said —only making our " tucker."

We understand that twenty-five quarter-acre allotments in the ToAvnship of Clarendon were sold yesterday by auction, by Messrs. Young and M'Glashan, at an average price of £26 each.,

As a contrast to the state of things here at the fire, we may mention that at the late fire in Melbourne a short time ago, when the Union Hotel was destroyed, they had 1,500 feet of hose attached to the pipes, within ten minutes of the discoveiy of the fire, and in an hour it was completely extinguished.

From a reply given by the Government to a question put in the Council we learn, that no official information has been received from Southland with regard to the removal of the restrictions on the importation of diseased cattle, but that steps would be taken to prevent their passing into this Province.

A fight was to haVe come off on Sunday last at Gabriel's Gully, and a great number of people were preparing to be present. Fortunately the disgraceful affair was stopped by one party forfeiting and the other paying for a champagne dinner.

We understand that, in consequence of a public meeting being called for next Wednesday evening, Mr. J. M'Glashan's lecture under the auspices of the Young Men's Christian Association is post poned till Thursday evening.

We beg to remind our readers that the census returns should be filled up on Monday next, when the collectors will call for them. It is most important that the returns should be accurate, and that the names of all persons in the house on the night of the 15th should be inserted.